My ordeal in a loveless relationship—Misiano

Ifeyinwa Shekinah Odo, a.k.a. Misiano, has got brains as well as beauty. She is a singer and fashion designer. In this interview with MERCY MICHAEL, the graduate of Political Science from the Enugu State University talks about life as a Gospel musician and challenges, among other interesting issues. Excerpts:

GIVEN that you have now ventured into music, will I be right to say that you have bidden goodbye to fashion design, which had given you fame?

No! It is not goodbye to anything. In fact, it’s just the beginning. You know, the Bible says that He will establish us above the surface of the earth. So, by the grace of God, Misiano is like an institution that has become established on the surface of the earth.

I came into music as a child. I’ve been singing from childhood. I was the nightingale in my secondary school, Federal Government Girls College, Owerri . I was always winning awards for my school. I was in my early 20s when I met the Lord. After I became a born-again Christian, the Lord began to direct me and channel my musical gift and ability towards serving Him. Ultimately, He began to make clear to me what He wanted me to do with the music. And then, I started writing songs like a Christian. I knew that, with His grace, I would record my gospel songs and release them for the whole world to listen to. So, that was how I started the Gospel music ministry. I also got involved in the church choir. Mercifully, I can say today that this is where God has really called me to be.

You see, my interest in fashion has always been there. I run a fashion school, where I teach fashion, and I can sow myself. I have been doing fashion right from my childhood as well. Thankfully, God has helped me to carry these two gifts. So, House of Misiano is an institution on its own. We are fashion-based and we also impact the skills of dress-making into others.

But Misiano, as a gospel music minister, is totally different. I am also an evangelist. I preach the gospel in buses, in hospitals and in the streets. I do early morning cry. I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ; it is the power of God unto salvation. So, I preach the gospel at every given opportunity I have. And even when there is no opportunity, I would like to let people know that Jesus is the way, the truth and the light. We must reconcile with him now that we are still alive here on earth.

There is so much about Misiano that I believe that with time, the world will really get to know by the grace of God.

Which has the better part of you: music or fashion?

Experiences in life shape people to become who they really are. I’ve been through a few little experiences as a person and I have learnt that I am going to give an account for all my gifts that the Lord has given me. Don’t forget the parable of the talents. So, at a point in time, I thank God that He rescued me from a negative way of life and brought me into His Kingdom. So, with the wisdom of the Holy Spirit, I’m able to carry these two gifts on a balanced platform. So, I can’t really say I am more fashion-inclined than music. This is because as you can see, the two of them are at par with each other. And even in my fashion institution, we have a kind of NGO, where we help people who don’t have sponsors or people who cannot on their own learn a skill. They are welcome to Misiano Royal School of Fashion. We welcome them, teach them and impact on them. Actually, we have a quota number of such people for that kind of thing; so, once the quota is filled up, we will ask them to come back the following session. We are just about to begin a new school session, so people can still come before the quota is filled up. That’s about the fashion.

As I said, within the fashion business, we have a Christian foundation, in terms of being a blessing to people by teaching them and empowering them.

There is no one I will say I am more inclined to because I have learnt that I’m going to give an account for each and every one of them. That is why I am running the two simultaneously.

What are those experiences that you said have helped shaped who you are?

First of all, I want people to know that there is hope. God loves every one of us and He has a plan for everybody. So, nobody should feel, ‘Oh God, you have abandoned me!’

God has never abandoned anybody. I, for instance, lived a life outside of Christ at a point in my life. That was when I was a teenager, growing up in a worldly way. Though I have very good parents who sent me to good schools and were very strict, it was not just enough. When I was out of their watchful eye, I did all sorts of things. It was as a result of the friends I was keeping. But I just want to thank God today that, in spite of everything, God delivered me. Also, at a point, I got into the wrong kind of relationship, but it didn’t end up in a marriage.

What do you mean by wrong relationship?

What makes it wrong is that you are in relationship where both of you do not really have something in common. Whatever is linking the two of you is not eternal. It’s only physical, temporal and pleasure. You might think that you are in love, but what is love outside of Christ? It’s nothing.

With the love of Christ, you can accommodate a person. You are to stand, no matter what; and you

will see that the person too will love you.

There will be no abuse of any kind.

You can imagine someone who doesn’t respect you and wants you to do what he just wants you to do; someone who is not ready to support your gifts or your calling. That is selfish. So, those kinds of relationships are not helpful or healthy. They depress you and make you lose confident. They don’t help you in any way and you are flat and out. You are always being beefed, instead of being loved. No matter how much you try to please the person, he just wants to keep you at a corner. He would keep you there and probably make you have babies or make you do something else. Before you know it, time is far spent. So, the Lord was able to deliver me from that kind of relationship.

Did you seek help from anyone or organization?

I didn’t seek help from anywhere. It was the Lord Jesus who met me at my darkest hour. It was precisely in Enugu in 1997. I went somewhere to see a friend of mine. She didn’t like what was happening around me. But to the glory of God, she had a mother who was a very strong member of the Deeper Life Church. The woman preached to me in Igbo language. She didn’t even preach to me in English. She told me about the rapture, what will happen to me, what the Bible says about those who will be left behind after the rapture takes place and where my soul will go to, if I am not saved through the blood of Christ. And she was just preaching the scripture to me. Suddenly, my eyes opened and I came to realise that I was heading for destruction. It was just like when the prodigal son came back to himself. At that moment, I came back to myself and I realized that I was lost. I mean I saw myself going on an expressway to hell and all of a sudden, I knew I needed the loving kindness of my God. And immediately, she led me to Christ in Igbo language. That was how I gave my life to Jesus Christ. Since then, I have never backslid.

Haven’t there been storms since you gave your life to Christ?

There have been storms. Normally, storms must come to test and shape you. It will come to make you strong. Jesus Christ said, “In this world, you will have many tribulations as well as blessings.” When Peter asked Him: “Lord, what are we going to gain from following you?” the Lord said, “You will have a hundred fold blessings as well as tribulations.” As long as you are in this world, don’t think that because you are a Christian, you will not go through tribulations. You will definitely go through tribulations. But our heavenly Father, who is making all things work out for our own good, will surely deliver you. The Bible says, ‘Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers them all. You must go through something because you cannot give what you don’t have. If you haven’t gone through a challenge, how will you be able to testify about God’s goodness? So, you must go through something and God will prove Himself in that thing; He will bring you out of that situation and place you on a mountain top for everybody to see. Then, you can be strong enough to pull others who are also going through the same situation and let them know that truly Jehovah Na Baba!

As a fashion designer what does style mean to you?

Style is personal. Style depends on your mood, where you are going and how you want to be addressed by a lot of people. But style is basically personal. You have your own style; you know what fits you, the colours that fit you and clothes that fit you because of your shape or taste. I have my style; so, it varies. It is basically personal. Style should not be a trend that people should copy. You don’t need to join the bandwagon. You can carve a niche for yourself. Your style can change from time to time, but it should be personal. It should suit you. Most importantly, it should be comfortable. Comfort is key when it comes to style.

Are you restricted to making clothes for Christians alone?

I make dresses for a whole lot of people. I clothe Gospel and secular celebrities as well as people in the corporate industry. So, it all depends. It’s not just Christians. I have a broad spectrum of clients.

In the course of your job, have you ever been harassed?

No, I have never been harassed, by His grace.

I guess you don’t make clothes for men?

I make for men. But you see, even Satan knows those who belong to Christ. In the same way, if you are a child of God and you know what you are doing, you will not get into that kind of situation because wisdom tells you what to do. So, just be professional because it shows. So, I have never really had such an experience.